City Uses Social Media for Feedback on Budget

City of Wichita officials are asking residents to provide ideas during the development of the 2015-2016 operating budget by participating in a second social media town hall on Wednesday.

City officials, including Mayor Carl Brewer and City Council members, will host the social media town hall meeting from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday on the ninth floor at City Hall; residents can weigh in on the operating budget at the City's Facebook and Twitter (#ictbudget2015). They can continue to comment at Facebook and Twitter after the social media town hall event ends at 3 pm. Planned topics for Wednesday’s town hall include river recreation, swimming pools, vanpools, and using technology to engage residents.

Last year, community engagement was an important factor in operating budget issues including converting turf to wildflowers and native grasses; planning for the future of O.J. Watson Park; and keeping other programs intact, such as the Wichita Police Department mounted unit and air patrol. During the May 21 social media town hall, there were more than 100,000 views, and more than 1,000 actively participated by posting comments, sharing posts, or liking comments. The most active topics were about removing and replanting trees, and bike path maintenance.

The City's budget totals more than $500 million. City services funded by the budget include Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Street and Building Maintenance, and Water Utilities. The 2015-2016 Proposed Budget is scheduled to be presented on July 15. The City Council will take final action on the budget on August 12.